Job interviews skewered on Folsom stage

CourtesyRachael Van Cleave is “Mary” and Matthew Donaldson is “Gary” in “The Interviews.”

Courtesycourtesy photos
Tori Connolly, left, is “Annie” and Matthew Donaldson is “Gary” in a scene from “The Interviews,” running Jan. 12-Feb. 4 at T.H.E. Actors Workshop and Integral Theatre Company in Folsom.

For anyone who has entered the work force, you know how intimidating a job interview can be. And for those who have screened prospective employees, you know what kind of interesting characters are out there in the working world.
“The Interviews,” written by Auburn playwright Brian Jagger, takes a hilarious look at both sides of the hiring conundrum — a process that wasn’t hard, given that Jagger had lots of material.
“I was really active in theater for a number of years, and had a lot of experience as a hiring manager. I thought I would like to write a play that could be performed in community theaters, so I started jotting down notes about people and characters as I went along,” Jagger said.
The result is pure comedy.
“This will be the third production of Jagger’s script,” said Deanne Eldridge of T.H.E. Actors Workshop. “I saw this show in Auburn several years ago. I was an Elly judge (Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance’s Elly Awards) at the time, and it was the only show I had seen that I said, ‘I have to produce this show.’”
Eldridge said the theater in Auburn sold out each night with “The Interviews,” and it’s easy to see why audiences love the show.
“It’s so well written, and has a simple premise — a man wants to take his wife on a belated honeymoon, but arrives at work to find that the boss is gone, leaving the main character to interview several people, and have a new employee hired the same day, or else he will have to cancel his vacation,” Eldridge said.
Imagine the man, frantic, the wife calling, threatening divorce, and a host of constantly changing, over-the-top characters filing through.
“The show is just so funny,” Eldridge said.
“The Interviews” premiers Thursday, Jan. 12, followed by a dessert reception, and will be offered as a special matinee benefit performance on Saturday, Jan. 28, with proceeds going to Run for Courage, a local non-profit that raises money to help sex trafficking victims across the country.
“Sex trafficking is a huge problem right here in the Sacramento area,” Eldridge said. We wanted to give back to the community, and 100 percent of the proceeds from the performance on the 28th will go to Run for Courage.”
Audiences look forward to the show that features an adult cast and will run at around two hours, including intermission.
“The play is just hilarious, and it’s really fast moving,” Eldridge said.
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“The Interviews”
When: Opens Thursday, January 12 and continues at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 4. Special matinee with proceeds benefitting Run for Courage, 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28.
Where: T.H.E. Actors Workshop and Integral Theatre Company, 800 Reading St., Folsom
Cost: $15 general, $12 seniors, students and military, $7 children 12 and under
Information: Actorsworkshop.net